A SOLDIER who smashed his mother’s car into an oncoming taxi has been spared jail so that he can continue an outstanding career in the forces.

A judge at Liverpool Crown Court told Jonathan Duckworth, who has seen active service in Afghanistan, that the offence deserved a prison sentence but he was taking a “wholly exceptional course”.

Judge Robert Warnock said: “You are exceptionally well regarded by your company and platoon commander and are regarded as a good candidate for promotion.”

The 24-year-old from Clipsley Lane in Haydock had spent the day and evening of August 10 last year drinking before he took his mother’s Peugeot car as she slept in the early hours.

He picked up a woman friend and was travelling along Haresfinch Road at 3.20am when he lost control before crashing into a taxi.

The taxi driver, Adam Bethom, who was not wearing a safety belt, suffered a fractured vertebrae and cuts and bruises. He has still not returned to work six months later.

Duckworth’s passenger, Lauren Graves, suffered bruising to her ribs, leg, collar bone and shoulder.

A soldier in the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment for four years, Duckworth pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking.

The court heard that Duckworth, whose son was born six weeks after the crash, was breathalysed approximately an hour after the crash but not prosecuted for drink driving.

The judge ordered him to pay Mr Bethom £2,400 in compensation at £200 a month and ordered him to carry out 240 hours unpaid work which will fit around an imminent two month tour of duty in Kenya. He also banned him from driving for 18 months.

Rob Haygarth, defending, said: “What happened on this particular night is a complete and utter aberration and he accepts that."